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Leading a Changing Government
Posted 1-29-1999
Four years ago, I asked the citizens of Westmoreland County to support my candidacy
for the office of County Commissioner. Today, I again ask them to support me for another
term. When I ran four years ago, I did not make outlandish or unrealistic promises. I
simply pledged to manage county government efficiently, work hard to minimize the burden
of taxes, work to open county government to its citizens, and work to improve the economic
climate so that more employment opportunities exist here.
I believe we have made progress in many
areas such as holding the line on taxes, making budget cuts each year, and by developing
greater fiscal responsibility within county government. By having an open door policy with
the media, writing a monthly column for the weekly papers, doing a monthly radio call-in
show, and holding town meetings, I have attempted to better inform folks about the
operation of their government.
Through my efforts to form the Westmoreland
County Area Labor Management Committee, I have attempted to improve the dialogue between
labor and management, and hopefully minimize work stoppages. Also, this committee serves
as a marketing tool as we showcase Westmoreland County to prospective employers. By
developing more available industrial sites, and doing outreach to employers and municipal
governments, I have attempted to foster an environment of cooperation. Our Planning
Department and Industrial Development Corporation are tools to help with economic
development. As I said four years ago, government's role should be as a facilitator for
growth, not the sole entity responsible for economic development. I continue to believe
that successful cooperation between government, the business community, labor, and
education is essential for our county to achieve its potential.
I have attempted to be a driving force in
examining how county government operates. Inefficient operations such as the
Waste-to-Energy plant have been shut down. Attempts to create more quasi-government
entities like a General Authority have been halted. But much work needs to be done. I am
not satisfied with our effort to make the purchasing of goods and services more efficient.
I still believe there is money to be saved by implementing a more common-sense approach to
the county's buying practices. I am also not satisfied with how we utilize technology. I
will continue to work to better insure that the hardware and software we acquire does what
is expected, and if not, correct the problems.
The biggest challenge county government
will face is effectively managing its budget. We have reduced the growth rate of spending,
yet the operating deficit this year is still $2 million. The reliance on reserves to
balance the budget will end abruptly in a few years. We have had some temporary relief
from debt service, but when it climbs back up, and the reserves are gone, we will have to
make tough decisions about spending priorities. I've consistently looked for ways to
reduce spending during this term to prepare county government for the future, and to
lessen the need for more drastic action down the road.
Our population is growing modestly and we
have to create an environment where our young people stay here and raise families, and our
seniors can live comfortably. We have to preserve the balance between development and
green spaces, and insure that we improve our infrastructure so that we are competitive
regionally, nationally, and internationally. My position as vice-chairman of the
Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission has allowed me to play an active role in insuring
Westmoreland County receives its fair share of transportation funding, and for our county
to maintain its role as a leader in the region.
In the next four years, Commissioners will
have to be leaders for a changing government in a very challenging environment. I offer a
positive combination of hard work, experience, with the ability to continue to learn, and
the fortitude to make tough decisions. I will campaign tirelessly, as I did four years
ago. I ask the citizens of Westmoreland County for their trust that I will serve them to
the best of my ability.
If re-elected, I will not govern from the
left or the right, but continue to govern from the center, and look for common-sense
solutions to the problems facing county government. |
